Author: Francine Brokaw

Disneyland Resort is the place for holiday magic

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


With holiday music and decorations in Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, Disneyland Resort transforms from “The Happiest Place on Earth” to “The Merriest Place on Earth.” With holiday music, decorations, and food, the spirit of the season is alive and well in Anaheim, California.


There are beautiful Christmas trees in both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, special parades, and holiday-inspired night shows. “A Christmas Fantasy Parade” in Disneyland features favorite characters decked out for the season and spreading holiday cheer, and topped off with a visit from Santa himself. “World of Color Season of Light” is a spectacular extravaganza on Paradise Bay with plenty of music and visual effects. And of course, no one does fireworks like the folks at Disney, so make sure you stick around for the “Believe…in Holiday Magic” fireworks show. Seriously, once you experience Disneyland fireworks spectaculars, every other one is a disappointment! After watching this spectacular I doubt anyone won’t be feeling happy and excited, not to mention amazed.


The “It’s Tough to be a Bug” show in Bugs Land is on hiatus. In its place is a special preview of the new animated film “Coco.” Take a break and rest your feet while you sit down in the theater and watch as Miguel and the preview of the film in colorful 3D.


During this magical time of the year take advantage of the special holiday treats throughout both theme parks. With the “Festival of Holidays” there are special delicious delicacies for visitors to Disney California Adventure. I recommend the Macaroni & Cheese with Cornbread Crumbles and the Milk Chocolate-Candy Cane Pot de Crème. If you love peppermint mocha, you have to try this. And there are other great seasonal-inspired foods to taste and enjoy for Christmas, Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Navidad. Vegetarian, gluten and kid friendly food are included so everyone can enjoy these tasty treats.

Just remember to bring plenty of patience. This is a busy time and with the new security measures, it might take a little longer in the lines to get to the parks. Just take a deep breath, relax, and put aside your frustration. You’ll soon be experiencing the “Merriest Place on Earth” with your family. The holidays are alive and ready to enjoy from now until January 7, 2018.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 20 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

Disney Dollhouses are awesome

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


When I was little I thought my dollhouse was really great. It had two levels and several rooms. But it was a simple house. There was nothing special about it. Little kids have some great dollhouse options this year from the folks at shopDisney.com.


The Frozen Arendelle Palace Dollhouse is nothing short of amazing. This three-level palace is filled with the amenities any doll would love. There are beds for Anna and Elsa, a dining room, a fireplace, chandelier, fabric curtains, and a grand staircase. The five rooms inspire plenty of creativity in the spirit of Frozen. With the furniture and the architecture of the land, this dollhouse is a piece of Arendelle. It measures 54 ¼” high, 3 ¾” wide, and 15 ¾” deep. The dolls are not included but the 12” Anna and Elsa dolls will be comfortable in this Palace. (Ages 3+ $149.99)


The Frozen Ice Crystal Palace Dollhouse is spectacular. For a change from their Arendelle Palace Dollhouse, Anna and Elsa (dolls not included) will enjoy this stunning palace decked out in blues, greens, and purples. With two staircases, three levels, and four rooms, and furniture, the detail in this palace is a remarkable homage to the palace in the movie. This dollhouse measures 53 ¾” high, 37” wide, and 16 ½” deep. (Ages 3+ $259.95)


Ariel’s Land to Sea Castle Dollhouse includes the best of both worlds. First, the lower level is her home “under the sea.” With her father’s throne room and Ariel’s grotto, life in the sea is represented to its full extent. There’s even a place for all her “thingamajigs.” The two upper floors represent Eric’s castle. Furniture, a balcony, a staircase, and the details on the walls inside and out bring the magic of Ariel’s life right into your own home. This dollhouse measures 58 ¾” high, 37” wide, and 12 ½” deep. The 12” Ariel doll is not included. (Ages 3+ $169.99)


Belle’s Enchanted Dollhouse brings the magic of the Beast’s castle to your home. Three levels, a staircase, balconies, furniture, and many of the enchanted characters from the film spur young imaginations. With the artwork on the walls and the included furniture and accessories, everyone who loves Belle and the Beast will cherish this dollhouse. It measures 46 ½” high, 30 ¾” wide, and 20” deep. (Ages 3+ $149.99)

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, travel, and entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

The “Battle of the Nutcrackers” returns to Ovation TV

Posted on by Francine Brokaw



The 11th annual “Battle of the Nutcrackers” begins December 11 on Ovation TV. Five productions of the holiday classic ballet with the wonderful and memorable Tchaikovsky music include ballet companies from around the world.

The five versions of “The Nutcracker” are performed at The Australian Ballet, The Dutch National Ballet, the Semperoper Ballet, the Berlin State Opera, and the Royal Opera House. The five productions will air from December 11 to December 15, with voting open to all viewers. The viewer favorite will be revealed on December 18 and re-aired that day.

Peter Wright’s The Nutcracker – The Australian Ballet
An Ovation TV Premiere airing Monday, December 11 at 7:00am ET
Created for Birmingham Royal Ballet and now performed by The Australian Ballet, Peter Wright’s production of The Nutcracker is considered the world’s most beautiful.

Peter Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker and the Mouse King – The Dutch National Ballet
Airing Tuesday, December 12 at 7:00am ET
Unlike the original story, the production by Toer van Schayk and Wayne Eagling (who also designed the delightful sets and costumes) does not take place on Christmas Eve in a German town, but during St. Nicholas celebrations in Amsterdam, around 1810.

The Nutcracker – Semperoper
Airing Wednesday, December 13 at 7:00am ET
Based on the celebrated original ballet libretto by Marius Petipa, choreographers Aaron S. Watkin and Jason Beechey have joined forces to create a production from the Semperoper highlighting the work’s fairy-tale aspects and visual opulence.

The Nutcracker – Berlin State Opera
Airing Thursday, December 14 at 7:00am ET
The Nutcracker is a magical fairytale full of vivacity and life and its musical brilliance is brought to its peak through the interpretation of the renowned conductor Daniel Barenboim and star Vladimir Malakhov.

Royal Opera House – The Nutcracker
An Ovation TV Premiere Airing Friday, December 15 at 7:00am ET
This all-time ballet favorite, in which young girl Clara is taken on a fantasy adventure when one of her Christmas presents comes to life, is gloriously put on stage in Peter Wright’s 2016 production, with choreography by Lev Ivanov.

To vote for your favorite production, go to the Ovation Facebook Page.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 20 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

New toys from Jakks Pacific inspire creativity

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

This season there are plenty of great new products from Jakks Pacific. These toys inspire creativity and build confidence as kids expand their horizons.

Real Workin’ Buddies Mr. Dusty

Do you have a child that won’t clean up his/her mess? It’s Mr. Dusty to the rescue. This adorable truck is a combination collection and dump truck. And he has a personality too. His eyes wiggle while he moves and he lights up when he talks Dusty has over 50 phrases and sounds. He is more than a talking truck. This guy is a big helper.

When kids grab his sturdy handle and move him around on the floor, Dusty opens his motorized mouth. His mustached- covered mouth opens wide and he scoops – or eats – whatever is on the ground. Of course he won’t eat huge items, but he is good at scooping up blocks, Legos, small figures, and other toys. Then when he is full, simply tip him over to open his rear and he dumps out whatever he has collected into one little pile. Voila. He’s ready now to go for another pass and sweep up more mess.

Dusty has a great personality, which comes through in his phrases. “Vroom, vroom. Let’s clean your room.” Cleaning time is his lunchtime and he loves helping kids clean their room. With Dusty, kids learn it’s fun to clean. Actually, Dusty does the cleaning but it takes kid power to push him around.

Dusty is a do-it-all truck. He eats, sweeps and dumps, but he is also a good playmate. This combination garbage truck, street sweeper, and dump truck is recommended for ages 3 and up. He works on hard floors and carpets too. Real Workin’ Buddies Mr. Dusty lists for $39.99.

BIG-FIGS

Whether your child loves Star Wars or the characters from
Justice League, there’s a giant BIG-FIG ready for fun and action. Imagination is the key with these overgrown heroes.

The latest film in the Star Wars franchise, The Last Jedi, is coming to theaters this holiday season. The characters will undoubtedly ignite the interest of kids of all ages. With a BIG-FIG they will be able to recreate scenes from the film or make up new ones. The characters are between 16 and 18 inches tall. They are articulated to pose and play.

Besides the Star Wars BIG-FIGS there are Justice League figures as well. Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg come alive in a child’s hands. Costumed in their traditional garb, these big fellows are great for taking to the playground, in the car, or anyplace.

For ages 3 and up, these BIG-FIGS list for $19.99 each.

Paw Patrol Electronic Music Mat

Do you remember in the 1988 movie Big when Tom Hanks and Robert Loggia hopped around to perform a duet on a giant piano? Well, the Paw Patrol Electronic Music Mat isn’t exactly that but it comes close.

For ages 3 and up this mat teaches music skills and appreciation with the help of the Paw Patrol. The mat has three options. When the Piano button is pressed, the eight soft “keys” represent the notes on a piano. Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do. Kids can play their own piano with their hands or feet.

To listen to pre-programmed tunes, simply press the soft Music button. Kids can dance along to the songs from their Paw Patrol characters.

The Memory button is the most fun as kids are challenged to repeat the notes played for them. The notes don’t light up so they really learn piano notes. It might be a bit daunting for some kids in the beginning, but they’ll soon get the hang of it. As they say in the game, “Practice makes Paw-fect.”

The mat measures 36 inches wide. Small feet or hands can easily reach the different keys. Batteries are required.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, travel, and entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter

‘Dinotrux Supercharged’ sneak peek

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


In Dinotrux Supercharged , Ty, Revvit and the trux gang discover that supercharger bitbugs that can make the trux bigger and stronger have been released in the crater. The trux gang harness the bitbugs’ power and find themselves transformed into all new supercharged avatars – faster, better and more powerful than ever before. Tricked out with cool, new supercharged features, the trux can perform supersized building and rescues and join together to stand up to their nemesis – D-Structs to protect the crater from destruction. This all-new series will present our favorite Dinotrux characters with a never-seen-before faster, bigger, better and stronger look as they come together to show us the true meaning of friendship, unity and teamwork. Dinotrux Supercharged is now on Netflix.

‘Wild Bill’ on Blu-ray from Twilight Time

Posted on by Francine Brokaw



An impressive cast brings the Wild West to the forefront in this 1995 film. Wild Bill stars Jeff Bridges as Wild Bill Hickok, a man with a past and the reputation to make anyone shake in their boots.

In a somewhat disjointed telling of the life of this man, Bill’s history and psyche are examined. Flashbacks/dreams are played out in black and white while the current story plays out in color. Bill relocates to Deadwood where he encounters Jack McCall (David Arquette), a young man who bravely announces his intention to kill Bill. Why would this man want to kill Hickok? He tells Bill and the town that Bill treated his mother badly many years ago.

John Hurt plays Bill’s friend Charley Prince and Ellen Barken is Calamity Jane, who wants to rekindle her on again/off again relationship with Bill. Keith Carradine is Buffalo Bill Cody, and Diane Lane plays Bill’s former lover. Christina Applegate, James Gannon, and Bruce Dern also take part in this star-studded story.

The film is interesting for fans of the Old West, however it is a work of fiction based on many factual incidents and people. Film critics recognized Bridges for his performance and, as usual, he completely embraced the character he portrayed.

Bill has pangs of remorse for his past behavior. He killed too many people and left too many women. This is a time for reflection on his past. To assuage some of his guilt he indulges in opium.

In this film Jack McCall does kill Hickok, however his backstory is definitely fiction. McCall shot Hickok in reality because he was annoyed at the man for kicking him out of a poker game! He had nothing to do with the young boy’s mother. As with many incidences in the film, fiction is a little more entertaining than reality.

This new Twilight Time edition includes a booklet comparing the film version of Bill’s life to reality. It is an interesting adjunct to the movie.

Wild Bill is rated R for Wild West violence and a sex scene.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 20 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books.

Follow her on Twitter